Dynamically allocating meta-data repository resources

Abstract

The apparatus for dynamically allocating resources used in a meta-data repository includes a tracking module to track resources allocated to a meta-data repository, the meta-data repository comprising a repository that stores meta-data related to a computer system. An adjustment evaluation module evaluates repository usage of the resources allocated to the meta-data repository and ascertains whether a resource adjustment is desirable. An adjustment determination module determines desirable adjustments to the resources available to the meta-data repository. An allocation module adjusts resources allocated to the meta-data repository in accordance with the adjustment determination module. Adjusting resources includes changing a number of strings allocated to handle concurrent meta-data repository I/O requests.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for dynamically allocating resources used in a meta-data repository, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor; 
 a tracking module configured to track resources allocated to a meta-data repository, the meta-data repository comprising a repository that stores meta-data related to a computer system, the resources comprising a plurality of strings and a plurality of buffers, wherein each string comprises a resource allocated to handle a single meta-data repository I/O request, a number of strings defining a number of I/O requests to the meta-data repository that may be handled concurrently, the meta-data repository comprising a repository queue configured to store one or more meta-data repository I/O requests; 
 an adjustment evaluation module configured to evaluate repository usage of the resources allocated to the meta-data repository and ascertain whether a resource adjustment is desirable, wherein the adjustment evaluation module is configured to evaluate whether a resource adjustment increase is desirable based at least in part on an amount of meta-data repository I/O requests concurrently located in the repository queue, wherein the adjustment evaluation module is configured to evaluate whether a resource adjustment decrease is desirable based on a sum of unused resources after each I/O request over a selected interval, and a second sum of I/O requests made over the selected interval; 
 an adjustment determination module configured to determine desirable adjustments to the resources available to the meta-data repository; and 
 an allocation module configured to adjust resources allocated to the meta-data repository in accordance with the adjustment determination module, wherein adjusting resources comprises changing a number of strings allocated to handle concurrent meta-data repository I/O requests; 
 wherein the tracking module, adjustment evaluation module, adjustment determination module, and allocation module each comprise one or more of hardware and a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable by the processor. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking module is further configured to track resources allocated to the meta-data repository in accordance with a selected interval. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting resources further comprises changing a number of allocated buffers. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment evaluation module is configured to evaluate whether a resource adjustment decrease is desirable by determining a first sum comprising the sum of the unused resources after each I/O request over a selected interval, determining a second sum comprising the sum of I/O requests made over the same interval, dividing the first sum by the second sum to produce a first quotient, and comparing the first quotient with a tolerance range to determine whether a resource adjustment decrease is desired. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the adjustment evaluation module is configured to evaluate whether a resource adjustment increase is desirable by determining a third sum comprising a maximum amount of requests concurrently located in the repository queue over the selected interval and comparing the third sum to a tolerance range. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the adjustment determination module is configured to determine desirable adjustment decreases by dividing the total number of resources available to the meta-data repository by the first quotient to produce the desired resource adjustment decrease; and the adjustment determination module is configured to determine desirable adjustment increases by summing the third sum with the current amount of resources allocated to the meta-data repository to produce the desired resource adjustment increase. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the allocation module is configured to adjust allocated resources by stopping the meta-data repository, adjusting the resources according to desirable adjustments, and starting the meta-data repository. 
     
     
       8. A system for dynamically allocating meta-data repository resources, the system comprising:
 a storage device configured to store a meta-data repository, the meta-data repository comprising a repository that stores meta-data related to a computer system, the resources comprising a plurality of strings and a plurality of buffers, wherein each string comprises a resource allocated to handle a single meta-data repository I/O request, a number of strings defining a number of I/O requests to the meta-data repository that may be handled concurrently, the meta-data repository comprising a repository queue configured to store one or more meta-data repository I/O requests; 
 a computer system configured to track resources allocated to the meta-data repository and to evaluate repository usage of allocated resources and determine whether a resource adjustment is desirable, wherein the computer system is further configured to evaluate whether a resource adjustment increase is desirable based at least in part on an amount of meta-data repository I/O requests concurrently located in the repository queue, wherein the computer system is configured to determine whether a resource adjustment decrease is desirable based on a sum of unused resources after each I/O request over a selected interval, and a second sum of I/O requests made over the selected interval; 
 the computer system further configured to determine desirable adjustments of resources allocated to the meta-data repository; and 
 the computer system further configured to adjust allocation of resources allocated to the meta-data repository in accordance with the computer system determination, wherein adjusting resources comprises changing a number of strings allocated to handle concurrent meta-data repository I/O requests. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer system is further configured to track resources allocated to the meta-data repository in accordance with a selected interval. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting resources further comprises changing a number of allocated buffers. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer system is configured to determine whether a resource adjustment decrease is desirable by determining a first sum comprising the sum of the unused resources after each I/O request over a selected interval, determining a second sum comprising the sum of I/O requests made over the same interval, dividing the first sum by the second sum to produce a first quotient, and comparing the first quotient with a tolerance range to determine whether a resource adjustment decrease is desired. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer system is configured to determine whether a resource adjustment increase is desirable by determining a third sum comprising a maximum amount of I/O requests concurrently located in the repository queue over a selected interval and comparing the third sum to a tolerance range to determine whether a resource adjustment increase is desired. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computer system is further configured to determine desirable adjustment decreases by dividing the total number of resources available to the meta-data repository by the first quotient to determine the desired resource adjustment decrease; and the computer system is further configured to determine desirable adjustment increases by summing the third sum with the amount of resources allocated to the meta-data repository to determine the desired resource adjustment increase. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computer system is configured to adjust allocation of the available resources by stopping the meta-data repository, adjusting the resources according to desirable adjustments, and starting the meta-data repository. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for dynamically allocating meta-data repository resources, the operations comprising:
 tracking resources allocated to a meta-data repository, the meta-data repository comprising a repository that stores meta-data related to a computer system, the resources comprising a plurality of strings and a plurality of buffers, wherein each string comprises a resource allocated to handle a single meta-data repository I/O request, a number of strings defining a number of I/O requests to the meta-data repository that may be handled concurrently, the meta-data repository comprising a repository queue configured to store one or more meta-data repository I/O requests in response to a lack of allocated resources being available to handle the one or more meta-data repository I/O requests; 
 evaluating repository usage of the resources allocated to the meta-data repository to determine whether a resource adjustment is desirable, wherein evaluating repository usage further comprises evaluating whether a resource adjustment increase is desirable based at least in part on an amount of meta-data repository I/O requests concurrently located in the repository queue, wherein evaluating repository usage further comprises determine whether a resource adjustment decrease is desirable based on a sum of unused resources after each I/O request over a selected interval, and a second sum of I/O requests made over the selected interval; 
 determining desirable adjustments to the resources allocated to the meta-data repository; and 
 adjusting resources allocated to the meta-data repository in accordance with determining desirable adjustments, wherein adjusting resources comprises changing a number of strings allocated to handle concurrent meta-data repository I/O requests. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein tracking resources allocated to a meta-data repository comprises tracking resources available to a meta-data repository in accordance with a selected interval. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting resources further comprises changing a number of allocated buffers. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein evaluating meta-data repository usage of resources to determine an adjustment decrease comprises determining a first sum comprising the sum of the unused resources after each I/O request over a selected interval, determining a second sum comprising the sum of I/O requests made over the same interval, dividing the first sum by the second sum to produce a first quotient, comparing the first quotient with a tolerance range to determine whether a resource adjustment decrease is desired; and evaluating meta-data repository usage of resources to determine an adjustment increase comprises determining a third sum comprising a maximum amount of I/O requests concurrently located in the repository queue over a selected interval and comparing the third sum with a tolerance range to determine whether a resource adjustment increase is desired. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein determining desirable adjustment decreases to the resources comprises dividing the total number of resources available to the meta-data repository by the first quotient to determine the desired resource adjustment decrease; and determining desirable adjustment increases to the resources comprises summing the third sum with the total amount of resources allocated to the meta-data repository to determine the desired resource adjustment increase. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting allocation of the available resources comprises stopping the meta-data repository, adjusting the resources according to the desirable adjustments, and starting the meta-data repository.